Written on September 24, 2008 – 1:15 pm Ernst-Jan Pfauth, editor in chief
Last week I wrote an angry post about people who try to kill the business card. Although I’m friends with a couple of these wannabe killers, I felt I had to defend the ultimate tool for self-expression during first impressions. But now, with pain in my heart, I have to give a couple of these guys a stage. After all, I cannot appear too biased. So here it is, a business cards-killing service which just launched in private beta: Project E.
Next Web Editor David Petherick & Robert Scoble with ‘E’ Prototypes
Three Dutch designers Paul Geurts, Arjen Sondag, and
Renato Valdés Olmos want to get people connected with “a device operated by a single gesture. “Exchanging contact info and social networking info with E takes as long as a formal handshake”, Renato explained when I interviewed him at The Next Web Conference.
Eventually, the three guys want to have specially designed hardware that makes this contact exchange possible. While they’re looking for investors to make this production process possible, they’ve also worked on a service that does the same thing, but with (most) mobile phones. Just a few clicks and you’re connected with your new contact on the services you desire, like LinkedIN.
This social network isn’t actually yet integrated. The beta now works with Twitter, Soocial, and the network of the conference they’re launching at this week, Picnic. Integration with delicious, Netlog, and Last.fm is coming soon.
For now, Renato told me he’s excited to hear your feedback about the UI and the connectivity between different devices. So give it a shot, the first 25 lucky people who leave a comment will receive an invite from me.
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Written on June 30, 2008 – 10:46 am Ernst-Jan Pfauth, editor in chief
If you’re a regular visitor, you’ve noticed the new button in the sidebar. It’s E.Factor’s, a social network for entrepreneurs. First of all, we’re really glad that E.Factor decided to sponsor us, as it allows us to write more and cover almost all the important tech conferences. I thought I owe to you, dear readers, to elaborate a bit on why E.Factor and The Next Web Blog is match made in heaven 2.0.
Next Web’s Patrick and Roeland Reinders
I’d like to coin a new term here, namely “qualitative social network”. Now I owe you a definition, which I’ll definitely give you, yet I’d like to address a negative trend first: the devaluation of professional social networks. I don’t know about yours, but my LinkedIn and Facebook contacts lists are stuffed with not just weak ties, but really weak ties. Like people I’ve met for thirty seconds in a conference hall or PR folks who have randomly added me to their spam mail list. E.Factor seems like a reaction to this, as the founders Adrie Reinders, Roeland Reinders and Marion Freijsen have built a network that focuses on quality instead of quantity.
The purpose of the E.Factor network is to connect investors with entrepreneurs. With features like live chat, video, classified ads, multimedia ads, and finance requests, members can connect, promote, and find funding. Moreover, the service has an old school business model. Marion Freijsen explains: “whilst other networks have to rely on advertising revenue or struggle introducing a sustainable business model at a later stage, E.Factor combines new technology networking with an old-school business model based on premium membership fees, technology licensing via its’ satellites, and fees for a variety of services.”
Besides generating revenue, these fees make sure that members have a feeling of commitment towards E.Factor as some sort of self-justification for the expenses. Thus a member is more active and - together with the 46999 other members, forms a happy crowd. And not just because E.Factor will soon offer them health insurance, 401(k) plans, physical lounges, and.., hopefully, a new design.
Written on June 24, 2008 – 9:54 am Ernst-Jan Pfauth, editor in chief
I just got a new stack of business cards. Since I’m working in the web industry, they keep flying away from my hands. Web professionals are just eager to get connected, so sometimes they hand over their card while still introducing themselves. Not my really my style, as I like to get an impression of a person, and then see his card. That way I won’t forget the faces by 75 percent of the cards I collect throughout a conference. But hey, that’s just not how it goes in the 2.0 world. So it’s not surprising that services like London-based Retaggr pop up.
Co-founder Ivailo Jordanov mailed me that his service allows people to consolidate their online presence by creating interactive business cards where they can add widgets and links for all their online profiles and data. Whenever a site/ blog owner has made his page Retaggr compatible, a little pop-up shows up with the essential info about the person. Sort of like the Firefox LinkedIN plugin. You can also tag photos, like your Facebook friends do. It looks like this:
This feature totally fits in the whole idea of giving away your card in the wink of an eye, a blog comment is reason enough - so I guess most Web 2.0 people like it.
Jordanov and his team will have to give a lot of business cards themselves these days, as their service lives or dies with the adoption by blogs and sites. He told me that they’ll be announcing some interesting partnerships - like the one they closed with the Italian version of Twitter, BeeMood.com. Only then, Retaggr might become serious competition for services with a similar feature (think Disqus).
Written on April 1, 2008 – 4:25 pm Patrick de Laive, Internet entrepreneur and co-founder of The Next Web Conference
Why are we organizing The Next Web Conference?
1. We want to bring the European internet scene together in one place.
2. We want to inspire people, with visionary presentations from great speakers
3. We want you to do business
4. We want to facilitate networking
5. It is so much fun.
One of the most important reasons why you are coming to The Next Web is because everybody is there. If you want to do business, build relationships, make new partnerships or get funded you’re at the right place. In previous editions we’ve noticed that The Next Web was the ultimate networking event. People are open, easy to approach and eager to do do business. That is the perfect attitude for a great and fruitful conference.
This year we will facilitate networking even more. We have multiple networking events (Expo breaks, Drinks before and after Diggnation, The Next Web Party, eBuddy Canal boat tour and more), but the big question is always… who else is there? Who do I already know and who should I meet when I’m there?
That is why we are introducing The Next Web Network, based on the ConfNetwork service (something we built ourselves!), where you can start networking, see who’s coming, make appointments, connect people and find out whom you should meet before the conference starts. This way you can get most out of your conference.
We believe that this network increases the value of the conference for our attendees. We are sending out all the invitations right now, so if you’re a conference attendee, check your mailbox and start networking!
Written on January 30, 2008 – 8:12 pm Patrick de Laive, Internet entrepreneur and co-founder of The Next Web Conference
In February we’re going to several cities in Europe to meet entrepreneurs, speakers and sponsors for The Next Web Conference.
It is kind of a road trip, but with a twist. We’re not only there for having chats and coffee, we will work there too. Last years Open Office trip to San Francisco was so much fun and we met a lot of interesting people while getting a lot of work done at offices of Plaxo, Yahoo Brickhouse, Mashery and MySQL, that we decided to do another trip, this time Geneva, Brussels, Paris and London are on our schedule.
For our trip we are looking for startups (or established companies) who have office space for us (a table, 3/4 chairs and a wifi connection is all we need) for one day. This is a nice way to meet new people and work at the same time. We will blog about the our tour on The Next Web conference page and we’ll post stories here as well (for sure).
The Agenda:
- Geneva, February 6,7 and 8 (We’re attending LIFT Conference. Get a 10% discount to this conference -use nextweb@lift as a discount code).
- Brussels, February 13
- Paris, February 14 and 15 (we’re attending OpenCoffee on the 15th)
- London, February 20 and 21st (we’re attending OpenCoffee on the 21st)
We have a tight budget, so we’ll be traveling cattle class and stay in cheap hotels (recommendations are welcome) or with friends. After my 16 euro a night hostel disaster in Munich last week, I’ve decided to upgrade to a real hotel during this trip.
For all cities we’re looking for a place to work and we will also set up a small party to grab a beer with and suggestions for venues are welcome.
So if you have suggestions and like to meet up with Boris, Ernst-Jan, Arjen, Babette and/or Patrick please get in touch or leave a comment.
Written on September 24, 2008 – 1:15 pm
Written on April 1, 2008 – 4:25 pm
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The Next Web Blog is closely associated with The Next Web Conference which is held annually in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. At this event speakers from all over the world come together to talk about, and show of, the future of the Web. (
